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Research Article

Speech Fluency, Depression, and Resilience in Chronic Aphasia

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ABSTRACT

Purpose

Aphasia is a language disorder that generally occurs as a result of a stroke or other neurological causes. Depression is a widespread reaction to aphasia, and aphasia-related variables, sociodemographic factors, and psychological aspects such as personality traits have the potential to affect this reaction. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether depression or psychological resilience level varies between aphasia types (fluent or non-fluent) and whether resilience in chronic aphasia affects the level of depression between the two aphasia types.

Method

Twenty-one people with aphasia (10 non-fluent and 11 fluent) between the ages of 33 and 70 participated in this study. The type and degree of aphasia were assessed using the Test of Language Assessment in Aphasia. The psychological variables in this study were examined with the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia and the Brief Resilience Scale. The rater was blinded to the aphasia type while assessing the participants. Inter-group comparisons were examined with t-test, and inter-variable relationships were examined with both Spearman and covariance analyses.

Results

There was no significant difference between the fluent and non-fluent aphasic groups in terms of depression and resilience. Among all participants, there was a negative correlation between the total depression score and behavioral disturbances. Covariance analysis indicated that resilience had an effect on depression scores for both fluent and non-fluent aphasic participants.

Conclusion

The protective role of resilience in depression in a typical population may also be valid for aphasia. It is hence essential to approach depression by considering resilience.

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Prof. Dr. Öget Öktem Tanör for her help and expert advice throughout this study.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

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